Showing kindness to mother
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
Answer
Saaiduna Bahz bin Hakim, on his father’s authority reported his grandfather as saying: “O Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam, to whom should I show kindness?” He said “Your mother!” He asked again, “Who should I show kindness?” He said “Your mother!” He asked the third time, “To whom shall I be kind?” And he said, “Your mother!” Then he asked once again “To whom should I show kindness?” He said “Your father, and then your close relatives and then the next close relatives.” (Sahih Bukhari p.883 v.2)
This hadith tells us that the person most deserving to be shown kindness is a mother. She endures the period of pregnancy and trials of birth and she nourished the infant. She is also deserving because she is weak and she cannot earn her livelihood by her own effort. (Fathul Bari)
It is stated in ‘Fazaail Sadaqat’ of Hazrat Maulana Zakariyah (RA) that some of the Ulama have concluded from this hadith that a mother enjoys three portions of right while a father has one portion of right to be treated kindly. This is why the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam spoke of the right of the mother three times before he spoke of a father’s right.
Finally, if ones father or mother is mentally ill, he or she is still liable to be shown the same level of kindness and respect if they were not mentally ill.
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
